October update

October update……

Wow – what a few weeks! .

Wow – what a fantastic week it was at the Junior Nationals!

The week kicked off with over 30 volunteers from different clubs and affiliates coming together to help set up the venue on Friday 25 September – this was a massive undertaking as brand new tables needed to be put together as well as barriers and umpires chairs and tables. In addition to this, the control room had to be set up as well as the computer network for the control personnel.

From early Saturday we had teams arriving for training as well as the opening ceremony which was a great and new way to get everyone together. Matches kicked off at 8.30am on the Sunday and ran through he week. The standard of the play was fantastic which culminated in some great finals being played!

From a SA perspective, we had a large contingent with excellent team and individual performances throughout the week. Most of our junior teams exceeded our seedings with the U15 boys receiving a bronze medal and extremely unlucky not to be playing off for Gold!

The results from the SA teams and individuals have been constantly improving year on year which is a testament to the Development and High Performance structures that TTSA has implemented as well as the coaching structures in place. Well done to all involved!

A full wrap up of the results will be communicated via Table Talk however individual results can be viewed on the website, www.tabletennissa.org.au .

I would like to acknowledge the massive efforts of the Organising Committee consisting of Cynthia Langley, Ann Percy, Julie Coombes, Greg Bungey, Kevin Malyschko and Damian Maddigan.

I would also like to acknowledge all of the volunteers that helped make the event one of the best there has been for years (and this feedback provided by a number of states and officials) – it was a massive event, and the ultimate goal of making it a great experience for the competitors (the kids) was achieved. Lastly, it would be remiss of me not to recognise our sponsors and supporters for the event, and in no particular order, thankyou to the following SA companies and individuals: • Wakefield Emergency Department • G-Force Building and Consulting • OOAK Table Tennis Shop • Credit Union SA • Hedgegrove Kennels and Cattery • KQuip Table Tennis Specialist • TSM Consulting (Funding Specialist, Business and Community Management) • PhysioXtra and • Office of Recreation and Sport Well done to all involved and it goes to show how much can be achieved if we work together as a team!

However, the activities do not stop though….. • the Australian Masters Games were held at the Houghton Table Tennis Club/East Adelaide Table Tennis Club • there is a massive contingency of players heading off to the National Veterans Championships in Qld (over 470 competitors) • as well as the Pacific School Games being held in November. As previously communicated, the Sports Development Officer has been appointed by Table Tennis Australia – we will communicate the successful candidate in due course.

In the meantime, various spring and summer competitions have commenced throughout the state – good luck to all of the organizers of these competitions……

From a Board perspective, we have some exciting new initiatives coming up that we are looking at that will benefit you and your members……so stay tuned. In addition to this we will communicate a new SA sponsor that has come on board to support the growth of the sport in SA which we are very excited about…..

The latest edition of Table Talk has been released to all members with an email address – please encourage your members to circulate this far and wide……..